I’ve just got back from my first trip using the Jollying Pebble 20” Pro suitcase with the matching Softhard Everyday Shoulder Bag.
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The main USP for the Jollying Pebble suitcases is that they’re collapsible and fold down into an ultra slim version that can easily be stored away. If you have very little storage space, both at home and at your destination, this foldability is a game-changer!
But does this foldability impact the quality of the suitcase? That’s what I was keen to find out!
I have tried foldable luggage in the past and, while I loved the concept, the actual suitcase felt wobbly and difficult to pull, so the space saving feature actually made it unusable in most situations.
Would the Jollying Pebble be the same?
Overview
Collapsible: The Jollying Pebble 20? Pro Suitcase is a sleek, minimalist travel essential with a twist. This suitcase is able to fold down to an ultra slim version of itself, making it exceptionally space-efficient. It goes from 28cm deep to 11cm when empty!
Design: The brand touts features like silent casters, patented magnetic connectors, TSA locks, and the signature thin-and-tall design. I really love the minimalist design. It’s clean and modern but also comes in a range of soft pastel colours that feel modern and cool. It has a really fashionable and aesthetic design that makes this suitcase as much of a fashion accessory as a piece of luggage.
Sizes: The Jollying Pebble suitcases come in 20”, 24” and 30” and I imagine having the whole set feels even more beneficial. I would love to slip my entire suitcase set under my bed as my largest suitcase takes up a lot of space.
For this review I was testing out the 20” as I usually travel with just cabin baggage and this was the perfect size.
Materials: Crafted from PC/ABS shell and reinforced polycarbonate inside, it balances flexibility for folding with enough rigidity to protect belongings.
Magnetic linking: The Pebble Pro and its 24? check-in friend can be magnetically linked for easy “nesting” or tandem movement. The suitcase can also magnetically link to the laptop case so it sits neatly on the front
Wheels & handles: Silent 360° spinner wheels and a telescopic handle eliminate drag and noise. The wheels and the motion/feel of pulling the suitcase was a big one for me but I thoroughly put it through its paces during my recent trip.
Testing the wheels and sturdiness: To save money I booked an airport parking spot which was a 25 minute walk from the airport. I know, I know, it seemed like a good idea at the time. This walk wasn’t straightforward either; it included grass, mud, stones, cobbles and bumpy tarmac. My suitcase was absolutely packed (well over the 10kg luggage allowance but let’s not talk about it!) and I also had the softhard bag on top too. It was heavy. But seriously, the suitcase wheeled like a dream.
I don’t know if other weak-armed people feel this but the day after pulling a heavy suitcase I often have an achy arm and elbow, but I didn’t have this at all. The suitcase easily whizzed over bumpy ground on 4-wheels and switched to being pulled on 2-wheels when going up a hill or slight incline.
I can safely say that the foldability of the Jollying Pebble suitcase does not impact the stability of the suitcase at all.
One large compartment – This is a personal preference but I love a suitcase that fully opens and has one large compartment. Some suitcases open down the middle and you have a compartment on either side, but I find this a bit awkward and prefer one big section.
Overall value – The Jollying Pebble 20” is £178 so it is on the pricier side of a cabin suitcase. If the collapsibility is an important feature for you then I’d say it’s well worth it because this is the best collapsible suitcase I’ve tried. The build quality feels great so I’m sure it will pass the durability test, but only time will tell there.
Conclusion – I love this suitcase and can highly recommend it for anyone who doesn’t have space to store a bulky suitcase – either at home or while they’re away.
Jollying laptop case
I opted for the Jollying Pebble 20” Pro Suitcase Set which means it comes with a matching laptop bag. I absolutely love this!
The laptop case magnetically attaches onto the front of the suitcase and sits there on the front really nicely. It also has an extra clasp you can loop through the TSA locks for extra security.
The laptop bag is really spacious. I use a MacBook Pro and there’s plenty of space for it and additional files and paperwork in the main pocket. There are additional pockets on the laptop case, with one that’s so small and difficult to get into that I don’t think I’d use it but the other one is brilliant.
I love the way it attaches onto the front of the suitcase so easily. I’d feel comfortable it was safe there and it would be so easy to clip it off once you get onto the plane and need your laptop.
I would be concerned that budget airlines would class this as two bags. I’m really not sure if they’d let this slide as one bag or two.
Now we’re moving on to the Jollying Softhard Everyday Shoulder Bag…
Reviewing the Jollying Softhard Everyday Shoulder Bag…
Considering how much I love the Jollying Pebble 20” foldable suitcase, I was disappointed by the Softhard shoulder bag.
I love a matching set and I wanted to love this so much. The design and aesthetic is gorgeous but I found the functionality of the bag disappointing. I found the zips on the bag to be slightly too small to comfortably use.
There’s a small pocket on the front which would be ideal for your passport and phone (two things you constantly need to get in and out of your bag while at the airport). But his pocket is too small for a phone and it’s only just big enough for a passport, meaning it’s a real squeeze to get it in and out and it needs to be wiggled and perfectly positioned.
The zip on the main compartment has a similar problem. This is a spacious bag but the opening doesn’t feel big enough to actually find anything inside. I kept putting my hand in to blindly rummage about like it was a game of ‘What’s in the Box?’
I was reading an average sized book during this trip and it was a struggle to get the book in and out. I also found the clasp got in the way when opening. I know it’s there for security but it was really just a bit annoying having to unclasp it and move the belt out of the way each time I opened my bag.
Design and Aesthetics: The Softhard bag is a unique design blending soft and rigid elements for a daily-use shoulder bag that’s both structured and casual. With a cylindrical form, smooth exterior, and clean lines, it’s visually appealing with a sleek and minimalist style.
The soft-hard nylon is lightweight but it’s also durable and wipe clean, and that structured material gives your belongings inside a little extra protection.
It’s available in light blue, pink, grey, brown and black and costs £153.
Magnetic clasp: It has a minimalistic magnetic clasp which did take me a minute to figure out how to use but once you get the knack for it, it’s easy to open. The clasp is practical and elegant and visually uncluttered, but I did find it a bit of a pain that it has to be opened any time you want to fully open the bag. Having said that, the clasp feels like great quality and won’t be rattling around after a few uses. It also adds an extra level of security as you can place the zippers behind the clasp to avoid pickpockets and thieves.
The rest of the design: The look is youthful and fun but with a stylish edge and, if the opening were just a little bigger, this would also make a great gym bag too.
The strap is fully adjustable and made from webbed nylon. It’s thick and comfortable to carry, even when the bag is heavy.
The main compartment of the bag is spacious and big enough for everything you need in your carry-on. But, like I said above, the small opening makes it difficult to access everything inside.
There are small inner pockets for organisation, with a zip pocket on one side and open pockets on the other. But again, with that small opening it’s difficult to get inside and use these pockets.
Using the luggage sleeve: The sleeve on the back of the Jollying Softhard Everyday Shoulder Bag slips really easily and neatly onto the suitcase and it sits on top really nicely. It doesn’t wobble or slip about and it was a real breeze to wheel my suitcase along with my everyday bag sitting on top so nicely. Sometimes it’s a bit of a faff to slip your smaller bag onto your suitcase but this pops onto really well and it’s nice to have both items of luggage together so it’s one less thing to worry about.
Conclusion
Jollying’s Softhard bag gets a big thumbs up when it comes to aesthetics and combining with a Jollying suitcase. Unfortunately it fails when it comes to function because those small openings made it difficult to open and close and access belongings inside.
Find out more about the Jollying Luggage range here and use my code THETRAVELHACK for 20% off.
